as in sailor
one who operates or navigates a seagoing vessel
a book about the adventurous lives of tars, skippers, and pirates of the 18th century
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to soil
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tar
Molly McCrea,
CBS News,
22 May 2026
The project plowed through tar and oil wells that needed to be capped.
—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
7 May 2026
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Mar. 2026
House Bill 1095 is a good piece of legislation tarred by a bad amendment that loosens requirements for public notices.
—
The Denver Post Editorial Board,
Denver Post,
28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tar
Noun
The main suspect is orangeburg pipes, made from wood pulp and tar and used extensively in sewer laterals and sewer mains during the 1940s thorough the 1970s and now considered obsolete.
—
Molly McCrea,
CBS News,
22 May 2026
The project plowed through tar and oil wells that needed to be capped.
—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
7 May 2026
Verb
It was tarred, feathered and run out of town on a Brightline rail.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Mar. 2026
House Bill 1095 is a good piece of legislation tarred by a bad amendment that loosens requirements for public notices.
—
The Denver Post Editorial Board,
Denver Post,
28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tar
Noun
-
The only public indication of an impending launch was the release of a warning for pilots and sailors to steer clear of the rocket’s flight path.
-
An officer and junior officer monitor the radar and navigation, while another sailor sits at the helm and oversees steering the vessel and monitoring the engines.
Verb
-
Some passengers reported soiling themselves in their seats.
-
The establishment remained closed after a reinspection, during which health inspectors observed unresolved violations including food stored at unsafe temperatures, multiple flies in the kitchen, soiled flooring under cooking equipment among others.
Noun
-
Shortly after the vessel was struck, the United Nations' International Maritime Organization paused an effort to evacuate hundreds of ships and thousands of mariners who were stranded in the Persian Gulf.
-
Nearby mariners reported smoke rising from where the Fiorella was last seen.
Verb
-
But as filming continued, Pidgeon appeared to dirty her butter blond with caramel and chocolate shades similar to Bessette-Kennedy’s, thanks to stylist Kari Hill.
-
With the help of your Instant Pot, spaghetti and meatballs come together in under an hour without dirtying multiple dishes.
Noun
-
Others want the massage, the salt room, the blowout, the nails, and that is their version of wellness.
-
At Corrientes 348 Argentinian Steakhouse in Dallas, steaks are prepared with just salt and mesquite charcoal, said assistant manager Emmanuel Tobon.
Verb
-
One group inflated a giant disco ball, while another smeared themselves with body paint next to a line of rehearsing dancers.
-
The costume—doofy top hat, smeared white paint—suggested full commitment to the bit.
Noun
-
Canoe journeys through the surrounding waterways will be led by Homalco guides, whose people were long recognized among the region’s finest maritime navigators.
-
The navigator owned the map, compass and GPS work, keeping us on course and on time.
Verb
-
The soda company had a third line where people could get face paint; a young man was smudging red makeup all over his chest.
-
Very much on the plus side, the output can't smudge, doesn't scratch easily, is almost impossible to tear, and is virtually impervious to water, so high scores for survivability.
Cite this Entry
“Tar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tar. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
